New Tank... Im Back!!!

[bigtyguyy]

Well that wasn't long, after selling my 100gal and everything that went with it. I started to miss everything. So the other day i was thinking about my 25 gal in the basement that is just sitting there and i was thinking that i would just have a little guy running. Less maintainance less everything.

My plan is get 1 MH 175/250 for the lighting and do corals and maybe 2 fish max to just give it some movement. Go no skimmer but hang on Fuge. Lots of LR and DSB and lots of corals. Keep it simple.

Im not sure of the placement of the tank yet, if im going to put it in the wall in this one area of my basement or just build a little stand for her.


just wondering what the best hang-on fuge is? also best water movement in these little tanks also if i should buy a hang on bio filter??

post some ideas i can do... anything to do with the 25 Gal.

:cheers2:

[kgolem]

:welcome2: Back.

Is this going to be a trend, sell off each spring and buy back every fall ???;) :laugh:

I would reconsider going skimmerless, especially with a smaller tank. The water changes needed to keep the water parameters in check will keep the system off balance, so it will be difficult to denitrify.

[steve w.]

Hard too keep away,isn't it?

[soups]

After this tank setup. I can see a upgrade in the near future.:gloat:

[bigtyguyy]

:welcome2: Back.

Is this going to be a trend, sell off each spring and buy back every fall ???;) :laugh:

I would reconsider going skimmerless, especially with a smaller tank. The water changes needed to keep the water parameters in check will keep the system off balance, so it will be difficult to denitrify.


WOW thread moved. didn't know 25gal was a nano lol lol

lol yea im just flippen tanks now for a living lmao lmao:cheers2: :giggle:


yea about the skimmer i was battling this skimmerless idea in my head. Go skimmerless and battle the water changes and also yea fighting to keep things balanced with the introduction of new water all the time. OR go with a cheap hang on skimmer and have all those damn micro bubbles in the tank! Is there a decent hang on skimmer that is very good at not releasing micro bubbles?

Its going to be a very very light bio load forsure, the tank will be for more looks and corals then fish like my big tank was.

[Mikee]

Glad to see you back in it ty! :D I was shocked when i saw u were selling everything i wanted to see more of your tank!

[donna53w]

Welcome back!:D We moved a couple of months ago, & sold our 55g tank. Now we are trying to get our Red Sea Max -35g going. I don't have any advice for you because I haven't run a smaller tank before but am looking forward tremedously to this new venture.
I'll be following your thread & waiting to hear advice from some others on the forum in regards to your new tank.
I'll just tag along here, OK?:spin2: Good luck with your new set-up.:thumbsup:
Donna

[cobs00]

Hey Tyler,

Welcome back! I have a 24 Gallon nano running skimmerless now for almost a year. It's doing quite well but that is credited to 5 gallon water changes weekly. All I have for fish is 2 clowns, and the rest is soft coral.

[smp]

I would consider a sump with a small skimmer and it would be a good place for a fuge, heater and whatever other equipment. I find small tanks don't look that great when they have all sorts of equipment hanging off/in them.

Maybe build a simple cabinet?

[bigtyguyy]

Hey Tyler,

Welcome back! I have a 24 Gallon nano running skimmerless now for almost a year. It's doing quite well but that is credited to 5 gallon water changes weekly. All I have for fish is 2 clowns, and the rest is soft coral.


cobs whats up bro, yea thats what i am thinking, also having a sump just makes things go to the next step. I want it simple and just old school more or less.

again any decent hang on fuges?

[bigtyguyy]

whos got the best deals now on LIVE rock? and sand?

[JamezC]

Hang-on fuges are too small to be of much use. Add a small sump/fuge; then you can also get a skimmer that will but of use too. The smaller the tank or volume of water; the faster everything goes to pot. A sump/fuge will add a little water volume to help keep everything stable; and it will also require less work.

As for rock & sand; just look at the sponsor announcment forum to see who's offering what.

[bigtyguyy]

Hang-on fuges are too small to be of much use. Add a small sump/fuge; then you can also get a skimmer that will but of use too. The smaller the tank or volume of water; the faster everything goes to pot. A sump/fuge will add a little water volume to help keep everything stable; and it will also require less work.

As for rock & sand; just look at the sponsor announcment forum to see who's offering what.


sump means buying another tank and building a stand to hold it and also buying another pump to push the water, also drilling the tank and then having micro bubbles in the DST. i went threw all this with my old 100gal. the fuges i was looking at are 24"long 4" wide" 12" tall.

[bigtyguyy]

ok whats the drill bit size for 1.5 bulk head. i think i am going to drill the top corners for a overflow and and just run a 10 gal sump. what size pump do you suggest for the little 25cal and what drill bit to drill the glass?

or is there someone close that wants to lend their bit?

[ksalt]

Good to see you back!:hurray:

1-1/2" Bulkheads require a 2-1/2" hole for standard threaded bulkhead

Mike

[bigtyguyy]

Good to see you back!:hurray:

1-1/2" Bulkheads require a 2-1/2" hole for standard threaded bulkhead

Mike


yea i understand that but whats it in MM?

[ShipWreck]

2.5" = 63.5mm

[liz]

Nice to see you back Ty! If there is anything I can do to help just let me know!

[sani_clown]

Hello,

This is my first post =).

Can you provide me with the light specs. of your 24G tank cobs00? I too would like to keep soft corals. I'm wondering if you have PC's or T5's? Thank you in advance.

5ani

[bigtyguyy]

Hello,

This is my first post =).

Can you provide me with the light specs. of your 24G tank cobs00? I too would like to keep soft corals. I'm wondering if you have PC's or T5's? Thank you in advance.

5ani

i have no setup right now just the tank and some random stuff. For lights i am thinking double ended 175 maybe 250 maybe... so that i can have a little of everything in my little 25gal

[bigtyguyy]

Nice to see you back Ty! If there is anything I can do to help just let me know!


HEYYYYYY Well i can think of something! :giggle: :giggle: :giggle: Im pumped to get my little guy running. taken her slow so that i spend the less amount of money and do it right the first time!.. hows things?

still pounden her?:cheers2: :giggle: :giggle: :giggle: :giggle:

[liz]

things are great and your yellow tang is doing really well! Glad to see you back! Seriously if there is anything I do to help just let me know. Should be doing the MH bulb thing soon so you haven't missed much lol I might have some frags soon too!

[kgolem]

Hello,

This is my first post =).

Can you provide me with the light specs. of your 24G tank cobs00? I too would like to keep soft corals. I'm wondering if you have PC's or T5's? Thank you in advance.

5ani

His signature indicates 2, 36 watt power compacts

[corpusse]

welcome back. Good luck with the new tank.

[bigtyguyy]

things are great and your yellow tang is doing really well! Glad to see you back! Seriously if there is anything I do to help just let me know. Should be doing the MH bulb thing soon so you haven't missed much lol I might have some frags soon too!


hey i can't think of anything now but im sure i will swing over and grab some frags off yea and see how my girl is doing! Thanks so much for the offer.

[bigtyguyy]

welcome back. Good luck with the new tank.


thanks Bra!:cheers2:

[bigtyguyy]

ok i was looking at some lighting for this tank, and this is what i am thinking,

running 1 icecap 250 and putting it on a HQI pendent for the 36" across. or buy 2 175's and put them on a pendent because i don't want to build a hood. i just want something clean looking. even maybe one of those light kits. i really want just pendents though.

[tankies]

welcome back...good to see ur back in the hobby.

[bigtyguyy]

ok heres some news.. Just bought a euro reef RS 80 for $230 brand new which i thought was great. also i am working on getting 1 250 HQI pendent or retro kit for the hood that i have now with my purchase of a DT that was already drilled and had an overflow. its 29 gal, so i will use my 25 for my sump.

also on the weekend i have started the stand. I just need to put the plywood on it and paint it.

i can get a deal on either the icecap 250 with a pendent or a coralvue ballest and Ian at reefperfection was saying go with the coralvue. do you agree?

[bigtyguyy]

also during the cycling period i will put the tank threw are the lights on or do they just stay off that whole month and just let the skimmer work and let the water cycle?

[supahtim]

you won't need lights during the cycle.

hope you like the tank! :)

i highly recommend the ice cap electronic ballast. after a full day of running, i can still pick mine up and feel absolutely no heat. but then again i have no experience with the coralvue...

Tim

[bigtyguyy]

heat im not worried about i am looking for quality. I have had 4 icecaps now but i have never run HQI bulbs nor do i know how they compare to the coralvue.

[bigtyguyy]

ok heres an update on the progress..... I have the stand almost done now and the i bought a ehiem 1260 return pump and also a WavySea for the return so that i don't need the power heads for the water movement. the WavySea will give me more then enough movement.

My question is what substrate is the best for my tank? the sugar size substrate or a crushed coral one or Carib Sea special grade or Carib Sea Aragamax.. what size is the best and looks the best?

[ajx22]

My question is what substrate is the best for my tank? the sugar size substrate or a crushed coral one or Carib Sea special grade or Carib Sea Aragamax.. what size is the best and looks the best?

100% depends on what style sandbed -

Read DSB vs SSB - and when you decide which; that will tell you what kind of substrate you need to use.

[Jewel]

I like the idea of going skimmerless. Drill the tank in the top corners, get a fuge that hangs on the back of the tank and pump the water up to the fuge and have it flow back into the tank. Its a fuge, and a closed loop all in one. Keep it simple. All you'd need in the tank would be a heater. As you said it would be a light load. Good Luck and have fun.

[bigtyguyy]

I like the idea of going skimmerless. Drill the tank in the top corners, get a fuge that hangs on the back of the tank and pump the water up to the fuge and have it flow back into the tank. Its a fuge, and a closed loop all in one. Keep it simple. All you'd need in the tank would be a heater. As you said it would be a light load. Good Luck and have fun.


yea i have already bought a tank that was in the classifieds and its a 29 gal that was already drilled and had the overflow. So i am now using my old 25 gal as my sump and the new one as the display. I also bought a Euro reef RS80 and for water circulation i bought a black wavy sea. I am undecided on the lights but i am in no hurry to buy them since i have to cycle the tank and i don't need lights. once the tank cycles for a month or 2 i will buy the lights.

[bigtyguyy]

just took a few shots of what i have now and my skimmer. Should start painting tonight.:cheers2:

[Mikee]

Sure looks like its goin to be a sweet looking tank ty! cant wait to see more of it soon :)

[bigtyguyy]

i did the sump today just need to silicon everything in but heres the design.


im waiting on the eheim 1260 for my return pump and i also need to plumb my auto top off i had from my last setup.

Still haven't painted nor have i done any plumbing.

waiting for the pump and the wavy sea and then i will finish the plumbing.

[bigtyguyy]

Well i did some more wood work on the stand and also built the sump.

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p16/bigtyguyy/DSC_1621.jpg

the layout goes Intake/Skimmer----Fuge----Return


http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p16/bigtyguyy/DSC_1622.jpg

[soups]

where did you buy your skimmer?:D

[bigtyguyy]

where did you buy your skimmer?:D

ebay $235 shipped no tax nor duties.

[ajx22]

ebay $235 shipped no tax nor duties.

Then someone lied or defrauded the system. Let me guess - eBay and shipped as a 'gift'. This is illegal.

FYI - no warranty either.

Might want to contact Euro-Reef about this too; as shipping the product over boarder is a violation of the distribution agreement with Euro-Reef.

[liz]

Great deal Ty!

[bigtyguyy]

well the stand is DONE!!!! i have to prime it tomorrow and paint hopefully also. waiting on my stuff to get to YOUR HOUSE LIZ!!!!!!! hahahah so that i can get this thing running....

[Mikee]

nice deal ya got there ty. Dont forget to keep us updated :)

[bigtyguyy]

well the stands done and painted im just waiting for the pump i ordered and also my wavy sea so that i can plumb this tank and buy the rock and start filling it with RO/DI water. I'll post pics tomorrow

[bigtyguyy]

well the pumps in and the wavy sea, that came with a 150W a Ti-heater 200 Titanium by Aquariumic thermostat and a digital temp reader. Is that heater any good? I should have it plumbed tomorrow and have it running with nothing in it tomorrow. I need the rocks and sand. the hunt begins for a good deal.

[bigtyguyy]

pictures of nothing exciting but atleast its up and slowly filling.

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p16/bigtyguyy/DSC_1623.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p16/bigtyguyy/DSC_1624.jpg

my wavy sea
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p16/bigtyguyy/DSC_1625.jpg

[bigtyguyy]

also any suggestion on what i can put under the skimmer to raise it up. i knew i had to do this i just not sure what to use.

[ksalt]

Look'n good! To raise our skimmer I used a old butter container 10x8x4 and with a hole saw, drilled out the majority of the non structure (for flow).

HTH

Mike

[liz]

You can also use those small milk crates that you can get at walmart.
(the one's that are made to store odds and ends).
You find them in the bins and storage container area - roughly 6x6" in size (they come in other sizes too).
Perfect for maintaining flow and the height that is needed.
Cheap too!

[bigtyguyy]

perfect i will hit it up on the way home.. thanks guys.. i maybe getting my rocks this weekend also. I need a DE 250 pendent now to finish off my lights.

[bigtyguyy]

any suggestions to break the syphon on my wavy sea. i have to have the nozzle low enough that it doesn't shoot the water over the side so then when the power goes out the syphon starts.. any suggestions?

[ajx22]

any suggestions to break the syphon on my wavy sea. i have to have the nozzle low enough that it doesn't shoot the water over the side so then when the power goes out the syphon starts.. any suggestions?


Same as with any siphon break - drill a small hole just below the water line. (ie. where the red arrow indicates below)
http://www.aquariumpros.ca/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=26698&stc=1&d=1193257747

[bigtyguyy]

good idea!!!! man i love that wavy sea i just wish the sand would settle. Once the tank clears i will post pics.

[ajx22]

good idea!!!! man i love that wavy sea i just wish the sand would settle. Once the tank clears i will post pics.
That can take weeks...gotta give it time for the particles to get saturated with bacteria to weigh them down.

Patience...(but you already know the drill)... :)

[supahtim]

looks good! it's nice to see it with water again :)

last time i had a sand storm like that, after a couple of weeks of waiting for it to clear i added some live rock and within a couple of hours the tank was crystal clear. just a suggestion... :)

Tim

[rentyn79]

That didn't take long at all. Welcome back.

Cheers, Mike

[bigtyguyy]

well its up and running and heres a few pictures

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p16/bigtyguyy/DSC_1664.jpg
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p16/bigtyguyy/DSC_1649.jpg
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p16/bigtyguyy/DSC_1650.jpg
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p16/bigtyguyy/DSC_1666.jpg
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p16/bigtyguyy/DSC_1667.jpg
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p16/bigtyguyy/DSC_1671.jpg
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p16/bigtyguyy/DSC_1672.jpg
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p16/bigtyguyy/DSC_1677.jpg
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p16/bigtyguyy/DSC_1680.jpg
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p16/bigtyguyy/DSC_1686.jpg

[J_T]

Hmm, I think that tank look familar :) Good to see it full again.

[liz]

Hey Ty nice to see you back!

[aquagrl]

Looking good! Nice selection of fish.

[bigtyguyy]

im now in the hunt for a pair of clowns of some sort i think. not sure which ones though. I had a pair of black saddle back clowns in my 100 and i liked them but im not sure yet.

[steve w.]

Cool shots.

I guess a pair of clowns will round it out.

[bigtyguyy]

is there a starfish that will thrive in my 29 gal tank? or is it too small? because i would like to get one

[jgillard]

The only star I would say you could get is a brittle star.

[bigtyguyy]

im having some algae problems right now one being hair algae, and then other cyno in the sump. I have shortened the photo period and have been doing small water changes like 5 gallons every couple days. I have only done 2 so far. Anything else i could do to get past this stag. I know everyone goes through it but i just want to shorten it.

[ksalt]

hey bigtyguyy, I think your on the road to recovery. I too had a algae problem and have taken the very same steps to eradicate the dreaded algae as you have. Next is to understand how you/we allowed the food sources to build up in our system in the first place. Check your feeding schedule, cleaning regiment, water changes, etc. While you are fighting it on the front line you'll in turn starve the algae and stop future blooms, your tank will love you for it in the long run. Good luck!

HTH

Mike

[tankies]

im having some algae problems right now one being hair algae, and then other cyno in the sump. I have shortened the photo period and have been doing small water changes like 5 gallons every couple days. I have only done 2 so far. Anything else i could do to get past this stag. I know everyone goes through it but i just want to shorten it.

hair algae=mex turbo snail from nafb(solved mine easily)
cyano=will go away

[bigtyguyy]

yea i think i will swing to johns tomorrow and grab a few because i can't stand this.. how many do you think for 29 gal tank.. i have some small turbos in there with some other snails as well. so how many snails do you think?

[jgillard]

Mexican Turbo snails are bulldozers and will bulldoze everything that are in their way. They will knock corals flying. Make sure they are secure to your rockwork otherwise you will be constantly searching for them.